Electroplating machine



Jan. 16, 1923. 1,442,514

F. Jv BELL ELECTROPLATING MACHINE.

F'ILED APR- 22. 1922: 3 SHEETSSHEET I jzrerzior 5fM Patented den. 16, 192".

U'NETEE) STATELS FRANK J. BELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ELECTBOPLATING MACHINE.

Application filed April 22, 1922.

T all to 7mm it vita-y concern Be it known that I, FRANK J. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electroplating Machines, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to electro-galvanizing machines, and is particularly adapted and intended for galvanizing wheel rims and other annular structures, and also capable of being used for galvanizing small articles, such as nuts and bolts and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine with which the operations referred to can be performed on the various kinds of articles indicated, and a plurality of rims for example may be galvanized at the same time, on both inside and outside, the machine comprising a power driven carrier on which the articles are mounted so that they can be entirely immersed in the solution. Furthermore the construction is such that the rims or rings can be placed on their carrier without splitting, being slipped on or off endwise of the drum and carriers.

Further objects will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the drum with one of the sides removed. Fig. 3 is a plan of one of the drum sides, and anode, partly broken away. Fig. 4.is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine. Fig. 5 is a detail in elevation of the driving gear. Fig. 6 is an elevation of one of the hangers. Fig. 7 is a. section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 4.

Referring specific-ally to the drawings, 1 indicates the tank which holds the solution in which the operation is performed, and this has a partition 3 near one end forming a compartment at the end for the driving gear, the end wall of the tank and said'partition being indicated at 4.

5 indicates a perforated hexagonal wooden drum, mounted on a shaft 6 which is supported at its opposite ends by hangers 7, said shaft having at its driving end a coupling member 8 which is engaged by a corresponding member 9 fixed to the shaft 1.0 which extends through a stuffing box 11 in the partition 3, and through a bearing 12 in the end Serial No. 556,109.

wall 4, outside of which it is provided with a driving pulley 13. The shaft carries a gear 14 which meshes with a pair of driven gears 15 on a pair of shafts 16, which carry the rims or annular articles to be galvanized. The shafts 16 extend through stuffing boxes 11 and 12, similar to the shaft 10.

Each shaft 16 has a covering 17 of insulating material, and is provided with a series of spacing collars 18 which are slidably or adj ustably mounted on the cover 17, for the purpose of spacing rims that are supported on and rotated by the shafts 16, the collars being fixed at adjustment by set screws 19. 20 are fixed collars on the shafts 16 for preventing longitudinal displacement of the parts mounted thereon, and the ends of the shafts 16 receive semi-circular bearings 21 at the top of the hanger 7 whereby said hangers support the shaft 6 which is mounted in bearings 22 at the lower angles of the hangers. The hangers 7 are spaced by tie rods 23. The top members of the hangers have holes 24 to receive hooks or other devices for lifting and removing the drum 5 as a unit. Blocks 26 form the ends of the drum and support the sides thereof, and these are retained by collars on the shaft 6, the sides of the drum being indicated at 27 and provided with holes 28. Each drum side has'at one end a slot 29 to receive stud bolts 30 having wing nuts 31 to hold the zinc anodes 32 against the sides, these anodes having at one end fingers 33 defining the slot 34 which receives the bolt 30 for holding the anodes in place. 35 is a ring bolted to one drum end 26, and having slots 36 for a purpose to be described. 37 is a brass contact ring fitting over the member 35. That part of the shaft 6 between the drum ends 26 is hexagonal or non-circular in cross sec tion, as indicated at 38, and is prox'ided with brass agitators 39 with radial arms, mounted thereon, so that the agitators will turn with the shaft, these agitators being spaced by sleeves 40 on the shaft. 41 is a brass anode contact brush which contacts withthe ring 37, and is provided with a lever 42 mounted on a'rod 43, and adjustable by a set screw 44, the'rod or shaft 43 being fastened by clamps 45 on the walls 3 and 4.

46 indicates a rock shaft mounted in bearings 47 and provided with collars 48 to pre vent longitudinal movement thereof. This shaft carries a plurality of cathode brush arms 49, fixed thereon by set screws 50, and

carrying the cathode brushes 51 which are adapted to bear against the rims or other articles being galvanized. The brushes are fixed to the arms by bolts 52.

53 is a drum cathode brush carried by an arm 5 1C with a lever handle 55, and 56 is a set screw for adjusting the gang of cathode brushes 51 and 53.

57 indicates a guard having slats 58 to prevent the rims from contact with the anodes 63, the end members of the guards, to which the slats 58 are fastened, being indicated at 59. 60 are wooden blocks or cleats for holding the anodes 63 in proper position, these anodes being suspended by conducting rods 51 secured by clamps 62, the anodes having hooks iii-Ii.- ongaging the rods. 66 in- .dicates the level of the plating bath or solution. are mdlcated diagran'in'latically at (37, and i The conducting wires to the anodes to the cathodes at (58.

In operation, it will be noticed that the shafts 6 and 16 are supported by their bearings in the walls 3 and 4-, and by the hangers 7, and that the end opposite the driving gear is open so that the rims or rings to be plated can be slipped on and lodged upon the shafts 'l6, in spaced position, with collars 18 between the successive rims. Then, the brushes 51 are swung down to contact with the rims, as shown in Fig. 8, by rocking the shaft d6. The current being then turned on the metal will be transferred from the anodes 32 and 63 to the rims which act as cathodes. lVhen the plating is finished the rims can be slipped off and another gang put in place. The rims and drums are rotated in opposite direction as the action progresses, by the gearing described, the solution being constantly agitated.

In case small articles are to be plated, one of the drum sides is removed by unscrewing the wing nuts 31, illustrated in Fig. 2, and the nuts bolts etc. are dumped into the drum 5. The side is then replaced and the drum revolved. The articles will then act as cathodes, current being supplied thereto by the arms of the agitators 39, the latter also stirring the articles and-exposing all surfaces. Current to the agitators is supplied through the shaft 6 and one of the hangers 7 which contacts with the brush 53. The exposed surfaces of the hangers 7 may if desired be insulated to prevent deposits of zinc thereon.

By the means described the complete surface of rims and other circular articles can be plated without hand operation other than to receive and carry rings in the tank, said member being supported at one end, the 0-pposite end being free for the placing or re moval of rings thereon.

2. An electro-plating machine comprising a tank, and a shaft projecting therein, and adapted to receive and revolve rings, said shaft being supported at one end and free at the other end for the placing and removal of rings thereon.

3. [in electro-plating machine comprising a tank, and a pair of shafts projecting therein and adapted to revolve rings placed thereon, said shaft-s being supported at one end and free at the other end for the placing and removal of rings thereon.

4-. An electro-plating machine comprising a tank, a rotary member therein adapted to support and revolve a gang of rings hung side by side therein, and a gang of brushes movable to contactcwith the rings respectively.

5. An electro-plating machine comprising a tank, a rotary member therein adapted to support and revolve a. gang of rings hung side by side therein, and a gang of brushes movable to contact with the rings respectively, and means to hold the rings in spaced relation on said member.

6. In an electro-plating machine, a tank, a pair of rotary shafts projecting therein, a pair of hangers removably supported by said shafts, and a rotary drum suspended by the hangers and removable therewith.

7. In an electro-plating machine, a support for a plurality of annular articles, comprising a rotary shaft having insulation thereon, and means to hold the articles in spaced relation along the shaft.

8. In an electro-plating machine, a support. for a plurality of annular articles, comprising a rotary shaft having insulation thereon, and means to hold the articles in spaced relation along the shaft, said shaft being free at one end to permit said articles to he slipped on or off over said end.

9. In an elcctro-plating machine, a tank, a rotary shafttherein and on which annular articles may be hung, and a rotary anode carrying drum in the tank, under the shaft, and adapted to project within said articles.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. BELL.

Witnesses JOHN A. BoMMHARIyr, EDWARD J. HOBDAY. 

